Major mom gives birth to 14 pups
CHARTWELL - Ark Animal Centre's resident super-mom, Angelina, delivered a mammoth litter of 14 puppies after a difficult labour.
Candice Eilertsen of the shelter, said Angelina was brought to them on 16 September after she had been found along Main Road in Kyalami. She said Angelina’s water had broken on the way to the shelter and she was at the start of her labour.
“We had to use a wheelbarrow to move her from the car into our shelter due to her enormous stomach,” Eilertsen said.
“Her stomach was so massive, we joked that she was giving birth to a dinosaur.”
Eilertsen said her labour progressed well and at 7pm, staff member, Cara Otto took Angelina home with her so that she could monitor her throughout the night. Otto stayed by Angelina’s side the whole night until 2am the next morning when Angelina’s labour stopped.
“It is not uncommon for this to happen,” Eilertsen said.
“We have had experience with previous mommy dogs and their labours that stop and then start up again later.”
However, just to be safe, Angelina was taken to Palm Gardens Vet. The vet examined Angelina and X-Rayed her where it was found that she was carrying 14 puppies. One of the puppies was almost in the birth canal but seemed to be stuck. The vet decided to do an emergency C-section on Angelina, and luckily all 14 puppies were delivered safely. Angelina was sterilised while she was still under anaesthesia.
“After the operation Angelina lost 10 kilograms and she looks like a different dog,” Eilertsen said.
Following her delivery, Angelina rejected her puppies but Otto bottle fed them every two hours day and night until Angelina’s milk came in. Angelina still rejected four of the 14 puppies, which were put into foster care to be bottle fed by some of Ark’s volunteers. Unfortunately two of the puppies were too underdeveloped and passed away a few days later.
Eilertsen said the other puppies are doing very well. “Angelina is so happy,” she said. “She is being a great mom to the puppies in her care.”
Angelina and her puppies will be up for adoption in eight weeks time.
Details: www.arkanimalcentre.co.za; candice@arkanimalcentre.co.za; 087 742 2211.
